Impact of Kyle Higashioka and Jose Trevino measured behind the plate, not at the plate

As spring training came to an end, opposing team scouts were fairly uniform in their thoughts when it came to their expectations for the Yankees’ offense:

The lineup, assuming health, was deeper and more diverse than the 2021 edition. Therefore, as one rival evaluator said, echoing the majority: “They’re going to hit.”  

But he added, as just about every scout did: “I just don’t see them getting much [offensively] from the catchers.”

The Yankees don't share those low expectations for the position offensively, but to this point, the scouts have been right.

Going into Saturday’s game against the Rangers at the Stadium — the first game of the series, scheduled for Friday night, was rained out and will be made up as a part of a straight doubleheader Sunday — Kyle Higashioka and Jose Trevino had met the expectations set for them from the outside.

Higashioka, who hit seven homers and produced a 1.695 OPS in spring training, is hitting .152 with no homers and a .433 OPS. Trevino, acquired from the Rangers in spring training shortly after backup catcher Ben Rortvedt went down with an oblique injury, is hitting .161 with zero homers and a .406 OPS. After picking up five hits in his first nine at-bats, he is 0-for-22.

The struggles from the position on offense have been masked for the most part by the production that has come from pretty much everywhere else.

Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, Aaron Hicks, DJ LeMahieu and Isiah Kiner-Falefa — to name a handful — have gotten off to strong starts, a big reason the Yankees (18-7) came into Friday ranked first in the  American League in homers (35), first in OPS (.746), and second in runs (119).

Asked earlier this week about the catchers ' slumps, Aaron Boone said he is confident the pair eventually will hit.

“They’ve both been tremendous back there [defensively], but we also expect them to hit, too,” Boone said. “I think in Jose’s case, he’s actually hit a lot of balls well and I feel like he hasn’t gotten rewarded a lot for it. And then Higgy, he’ll get going, he’ll get his power stroke going here. We need those guys to contribute like we think they’re capable of [offensively].”

Still, the calling card for both Higashioka and Trevino is their defense and overall ability to work with pitchers. They have more than met those lofty expectations.

Entering this weekend series against Texas, the Yankees ranked first in the American League in rotation ERA (2.85) and tied for first in the AL (with Detroit) in bullpen ERA at 2.30.

So Boone said Higashioka and Trevino have more than made up for their lack of offense because of the success of the Yankees’ pitching staff as a whole.

“There’s no question the impact they’ve had behind the plate has been tremendous,” he said.

Take one of the many impressive numbers for the rotation, for example. The club’s starters have allowed three or fewer earned runs in 24 of 25 starts and two or fewer earned runs in 20 of those starts.

Boone said Higashioka and Trevino share credit for those achievements, the reason their lack of offense doesn’t come close to registering as an early-season concern.  

“They’re an important part of it,” Boone said. “They call it the battery for a reason. They [the catchers and pitchers] need to work in sync, they need to be on the same page. It’s a partnership there. So the catcher plays an important role in the success of a pitching staff, and I feel our two catchers to this point have played a big role.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.